Jared Marcucci 1

Character Analysis of Nathan Detroit from Guys and Dolls

1. Who are you?
I am Nathan Detroit.
2. In what country, state, and city do you live?
I live in New York City, New York of the United States of America
3. Are you single, married, or divorced?
Miss Adelaide has been my fiance for fourteen years. I genuinely love her, but I am reluctant to
elope with her.
4. How do you dress, walk, and sit?
I dress as a typical business man of the 20s and 30s. When I walk I tend to walk with
a purpose if I am setting out to do something, like go to a meeting. Otherwise I was
casually, but I have to walk fast with the crowd of New York.
5. What are your characteristic voice tones?
I talk with a soft tone, not quite complaining, but Im always trying to convince. Im
constantly trying to convince someone of a lie or to take a gamble.
6. Are you in good health?
Im in good health, Im not old yet. Im only in my mid-thirties.

1. How do you relate to the (a) plot, (b) the mood, (c) the theme of the play?
Describe and explain The plot, mood, & theme of the play and then how you (as the
character) relate to each.
Plot: Nathan Detroit needs $1000 to finance his gambling. He makes a bet with Sky
Masterson that Nathan doesnt think that Sky can take the virtuous missionary,
Sarah Brown, on a date to Havana, Cuba. When Sarah agrees to go on the date with
Sky to save her mission, Sky and Sarah unexpectedly fall in love. When Sarah learns
that it was part of a bet she doubts Skys love for her. To get Sarah to believe him,
Sky promises to bring 12 sinners to her mission. He even pretends that he lost the
bet with Nathan (paying him the $1000), to protect Sarahs reputation. Sky then
makes bets with twelve men and wins them all, so they have to come to the
mission. Nathan was supposed elope with Miss Adelaide, his fiance that night, but
he now has to go to the mission. Miss Adelaide doesnt believe him and is upset. Sky
convinces Sarah of his love and they get married. Soon after Nathan opens up a
newsstand and marries Adelaide.
Mood: The musical is light-hearted, comedic, and romantic as the audience longs for
certain characters to get together.

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Theme: The theme is that sinners arent very different from saints; everyone has
potential to be good or bad.
Plot Related: I made a bet with Sky. There was no possible way for him to win. I
dont know how, but he did. Surprisingly though, he acted as if I won and paid me!
The only catch was I had to go to a prayer meeting at the mission with Sky. The
problem is that, that would mean me missing my elopement with my lovely fiance,
Adelaide! I love her, but I have to go. I hope that one day I can quit all this gambling
and have an honest occupation.
Mood Related: I think Im a pretty funny guy, every once in a while I get everybody
laughing. I should marry Adelaide already, but I dont know if I can commit.
Theme Related: Yeah, Im a gambler, but Im not as bad a guy as you would think. I
do my best to show Adelaide that I love her, but sometimes I have commitments.
We really do want to be good people. I would love to quit gambling and get a real
job and finally marry my sweet Adelaide.

2. How are you physically and psychologically different from the other characters in
the play?
I think Im just like any other gambler in this town. The only difference might be that
some are a bit tougher than me. Im not a bad guy like them I just like to gamble, I
really could be a good guy.
3. Physical description (be as detailed as you can). Include: sex, age, height, weight,
hair color, eye color, skin, posture, appearance, defects or unusual physical
features.
Im as average as it gets. Male. 511. Mid- thirties. Im 160 pounds so maybe I
could lose a couple pounds, but its not like Im out of shape or anything. Brown hair
and eyes. Im not very hairy like any of those gorillas down at Biltmores garage. I
like who I am. Im confident and I act like it. Mother always told me to stand with
proper posture ya know.
4. Sociological profile: class, occupation, attitude, education, race, nationality,
standing in the community or position in society, political affiliation, admirable
qualities, intellect
Lets just say Im in one of the lower tax brackets. I make my money hosting the
illegal floating craps game around the city. I got through high school, growing up
here in New York with only my mother, but never bothered with college. We couldnt
afford it. Im a white American. All the gamblers love me, but I think the police treat
me as infamous. Politics never really interested me. I think Im relatively clever (that
doesnt make me smart, but Im certainly not dumb either mind you), cunning,
funny, and charming. Im not educated, but Im pretty smart. You should see some
of the people I gamble with; they are dumb.

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5. Psychological profile: moral standards, sexual behavior, ambitions, personal
habits, frustrations, temperament, life attitude, complexes, emotional disturbances,
abnormal behaviors, abilities, talents, admirable qualities, intellect
Im not a bad guy. I mean I dont really think gambling is a sin and craps definitely
shouldnt be against the law. Im extremely loyal to my Adelaide and I always will
be. I would love to have my own job, but it seems Im addicted to gambling; I dont
know why I cant stop. I hate how the cops and Adelaide are always getting on me
for gambling, but ya know what? Life is great, I wouldnt have it any other way.
Except that I would love to be rich. I seem to be unable to commit. Like with
Adelaide. I love her I just cant get around to marrying her. Maybe I should stop
gambling, but Im also good at it, so why should I?
6. What are your strengths? How are they affected in the play?
What can I say? Im a great gambler, I hardly ever lose. Except to Sky Masterson: He
actually never loses. I guess another strength could be my loyalty. Ill never leave
Adelaide.
7. How do you want to be perceived by yourself?
I want to be comfortable with myself. Maybe its the law or maybe its that I want to
stop hiding, but I have this nagging feeling that I should stop gambling. I want to be
pure like those church guys. Steady income, steady life.
8. Find the good in your bad character, or the bad in your good character. Describe.
Nathan Detroit could be considered bad by the law because of his gambling.
Otherwise hes morally straight. Hes loyal to Adelaide, and once theyre married
hell be just fine. If he quit gambling, hed be a saint. He wants to be a good guy.
9. Fantasize about your IDEAL future. Where will you be in one year, five years, and
ten years?
In one year, Id like to have a real job. Gambling is too risky. Real fun, though.
In five years, I want to be married to Adelaide. Ill get to it. Eventually.
In ten years, I want to be rich! I would like to maybe have kids with Adelaide, so that
we can stop lying to her mother about having them.
10. Create an imaginary background. Complete your history, giving special attention
to the events in your life which were influential in the development of your
character as you appear in the work.
I was born in New York City in 1895. As a kid I was never given allowance so I was
always protective of the little money I would occasionally get for my birthday from
an aunt or anyone. The only time I used my money was to gamble, and I only
gambled to get more money. I was usually successful. Some of the older guys at
school taught me at recess, but I eventually I figured it out for myself and would
occasionally beat them in a game of poker. When I graduated high school I was in
the big leagues of gambling. I eventually started running the illegal floating craps

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game and I still make enough to support myself. When I was 21, I met Adelaide, the
girl of my dreams. I soon asked her to marry me, but I havent really gotten around
to it, Im always busy running the craps game. At 22, I avoided the World War one
draft. I convinced someone to write me a medical deferment and really dodged a
bullet. Literally. I just try to stay out of sight of the officers these days when Im
running the craps.

1. How do you relate to the (a) plot, (b) the mood, (c) the theme of the play?
Describe and explain The plot, mood, & theme of the play and then how you (as the
character) relate to each.
Repeat
2. How do you (as the actor) relate to the theme? Can you relate to what the
playwright is saying? Why?
I think I relate to the theme because Im a pretty religious guy. I think the playwright
is trying to say that saints and sinners arent very different from each other. I know
firsthand that no one is perfect (both in the church and outside the church) and no
one is entirely evil. The playwright doesnt think you should brand anyone either
good or bad because there is good and bad in everyone.
3. What are your opposition forces? Whats in the way of what you want to achieve?
Who is against you?
I tend to oppose myself a lot. I dont want to gamble, but I do. I want to marry
Adelaide, but I cant. The only other things really against me are my economic
situation and the people I gamble with occasionally.
4. Find all of your lines and record those of importance here. These are ANY lines in
the script, which reveal something about you: what you say about yourself, what
you say about other characters, what others say about you, and what comments
and descriptions the playwright offers. Write them down and INCLUDE THESE TRAITS
IN YOUR CHARACTERIZATION PROCESS. THIS SHOULD BE A VERY LONG ANSWER.
I have been running the crap game since I was a juvenile delinquent.
Nathan Detroit: [to Nicely and Benny] Take Adelaide to the Hot Box. In a cab.
Miss Adelaide: But it's only a couple of blocks.
Nathan Detroit: The streets are covered with tourists and I do not want you
molested.
[after declining a bet that he cannot say what color his tie is] Polka dots. In the whole world, only Nathan
Detroit could blow a thousand bucks on polka dots.
If a guy did not have a doll, who would holler on him?
Big Jule: Tell me, how long have you known the doll?
Nathan Detroit: 14 years.

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Lieutenant Brannigan: What brings all these senior delinquents together?
Nathan Detroit: They got lonely. How am I supposed to know?
Lieutenant Brannigan: And why are they all wearing red carnations?
Nathan Detroit: They are also all wearing pants.

5. Physical description (be as detailed as you can). Include: sex, age, height, weight,
hair color, eye color, skin, posture, appearance, defects or unusual physical
features.
Repeat
6. Sociological profile: class, occupation, attitude, education, race, nationality,
standing in the community or position in society, political affiliation, admirable
qualities, intellect
Repeat
7. Psychological profile: moral standards, sexual behavior, ambitions, personal
habits, frustrations, temperament, life attitude, complexes, emotional disturbances,
abnormal behaviors, abilities, talents, admirable qualities, intellect
Repeat
8. What appearances must you avoid with each particular character?
I must avoid looking weak around the guys. I always need to appear tough so that
they know that Im the one who runs this business. I want to avoid appearing as if I
dont care about Adelaide because I do honestly care her.
9. Who is your god? This is NOT a religious question. Who or what are the guiding
forces within your life?
I suppose I believe in God, but the real drive in my life is my desire to serve
Adelaide and be there for her. Also, I need to support myself.
10. What is the dramatic purpose of your role as created by the playwright? Why are
you in the play?
The dramatic purpose of Nathan is to show someone who would be perceived as
bad, but actually has good intentions and desires. He is also very comedic.
11. Fantasize about your IDEAL future. Where will you be in one year, five years, and
ten years?
Repeat
12. Create an imaginary background. Complete your history, giving special attention
to the events in your life which were influential in the development of your
character as you appear in the work.
Repeat